Drying apparatus



G. ENGEL, JR I DRYING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 12, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FUR/VICE Fig-2 ATTORNEY.

G. ENGEL, JR

DRYING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 12, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR:

ATTO.RNEY,

Patented Feb. 10, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

eonrm Y ENGEL, an, or BROOKL N, new YORK, assreuon. T MOGANN MANUFAC- roams COMPANY. 1110., or YORK, PENNSYLVANIA, A. qonrom'rron or PENNSYL- VANIA.

DRYING APPARATUS.

Application filed January 12, 1924. Serial No. 685,805.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that l, GODFREY ENGEL, J unior, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State'of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Drying Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to apparatus for drying various substances or products and particularly to apparatus capable of efilciently evaporating liquid from such material as ore or ore concentrates.

One object of the invention is to produce a dryer capable of economic operation and of high efficiency, and. a further object of the invention is to provide a dryer of such form and design as to afford a large capacity while occupying very small floor space.

A further purpose of the invention is to provide a dryer which may be readily constructed and installed at minimum expense, and one in which the parts are so constructed and combined as to permit ready accessibility to the interior'of the apparatus and to facilitate repairs or renewal of parts when required. a

The invention and satisfactory means for carrying the same into effect will be fully understood from the detailed description hereinafter presented, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the dryer of my invention and illustrates the direct connection of the same with the furnace; I

' Fig. 2 is a central vertic 1 section throughthe same taken on the d ted' line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional planview taken on the dotted line 3-3 of Fig. v2;-

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional plan view taken on the dotted line 44 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a .similar view taken on the dotted line 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a vertical section, on a larger scale, through a portion of the apparatu'sv and taken on the dotted line 66 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 presents a detail plan and side view, ona larger scale, illustrating radially disposed. matching clamping members which are adapted to receive the inner ends of the radial scraper or pusher bars and by which annular ange 27 whichv is securedtoan said bars are connected with the center r0 ta'toryshaft;

ig. 8 is an end view. of a feed or discharge nozzle containing a rotary sealing member I will make use of at both nozzles when the apparatus is operated under a vacuum; I

Fig. 9 is a vertical section through the same taken on the dotted line 9-9 of Fig. 8, and

Fig. 10 is a central vertical section through aslightly modified form of the dryer.

The apparatus of my invention is vertical and cylindrical and mounted on legs or supports 10, and hence the apparatus occupies the minimum of floor space.

The main casing of the dryer may be made of either metal or wood and is formed of an outer shell 11, an inner shell 12, a top or cover 13 and a bottom 14.

The outer and inner shells 11, 12' are spaced apart by an upper continuous ring 15 and lower spacing blocks or pieces 16 to form between said shells a cylindrical chamber 17 for the heating medium, which will pass from the furnace '18 through piping or flues 19 to nozzles 20 secured. to the outer shell 11 and communicating with the upper end of the chamber 17, and the lower end of said chamber is in communication with the main interior chamber of the apparatus through thelarge spaces left between the spacing blocks 16 (Fig. 4).

The upper end ofthe inner shell 12 ex-' tends above the upper end of the outer shell 11 and also above the spacing and sealing ring 15, and said end of the inner shell is] reinforced by an angle ring orband 21 seand has an inlet nozzle 22 for the material to be treated, an exhaust nozzle 23 for the vapor arising from thematerial treated, a

central ball-bearing cap 24 for the upper, end oi the vertical shaft 25 and a manhole and cover 26. Y

The bottom 14 is dished upwardly and at its ed es has a downwardly projectin within the lower edge portions of theouter' shell 11,-and said bottom 14 has an outlet r or discharge nozzle 28 for the material treat be thereon over the inner edges of said ed and a center ball-bearing 29 for the plates and into the openings 36, are a series lower end of the vertical shaft 25. of angularly dis sed pushers or scrapers The outer shell 11 extends considerably 38 (Fig. 4), w 'ch correspond with the below the inner shell 12 (Fig. 2) whose scrapers 37 but are disposed at a different 70 lower edge terminates at the lower edges angle therefrom, the scrapers 37'being arof the spacingblocks 16, the lower or dis ranged to sweep orpush the material outcharge end of the mam chamber of the wardly over the lates 32, and the scrapers dryer bBlDg enlarged by this construction. 38 being dispo to sweep or push the ma T e lower end of the outer shell 11 is terial inwardly over the plates 33. The strengthened by a continuous reinforcing scrapers 37, 38 are in the form of blades angle secured thereto and whose laterhavmg lowered es matching the surfaces of ally extending flange bears upon and is se the respective plates 32, 33 and upper edge cured to the upper ends of the supporting flanges 39 (Fig. 6) which are secured "to legs 10. segmental plates by means of bolts 41- The vertical shaft 25 is supported in the which pass through holes in said flanges bearings 24, 29 and has secured to its-lower and through segmental slots 42 in said end a suitable driving gear 31 through which plates 40, said bolts and slots permitting the power may be applied to said shaft from scrapers to be angularly adjusted in accordany convenient source for rotating the same ance with the nature and condition of the and the features connected therewith. material under treatment and 'the timing Within the main chamber of the dryer desired for moving the material off from I provide a plurality of horizontally dissaid plates. The segmental plates 40 are osed plates or disks 32 alternating with rigidly secured to the base of inverted T- horizontally disposed plates or disks 33, the iron bars 43, and the vertical flanges of plates '32 each affording a flooring which inthese bars '43 are securely bolted between clines downwardly and outwardly from the radial clamping members 44 (Fig. 7) rigcenter shaft 25, and the plates 33 each afl'ordidly pinned or otherwise secured onto the ing'a flooring which inclines downwardly and shaft 25. The scrapers 37, 38 are by the inwardly toward said shaft, said plates 32 bemeans just described, connected with the ing domed upwardly into low conical shape vertical shaft 25, and during the rotation and the plates 33 being dished downwardly of said shaft said scrapers are caused to into low inverted conical shape. The plates sweep over the upper surfaces of the plates 32, 33, are stationary and supported from 37, 38 and scrape or push the material off the side walls of the inner shell 12 by means from the same. of brackets 34 secured to said walls and The material which falls on the bottom bars 35 extending radially below saidpla-tes 14 from the lowermost plate 33 is acted on from said brackets. The plates 32 are less by scrapers 45 whose lower edges are conin diameter than the shell 12 and along the caved to match the convexity of the bottom peripheral edges of said plates is left an 14 and which scrapers are fastened to segannular space-down through which the maments 46 secured to radial bars 47 carried terial under treatment may descend to the by clamping members 48 secured to the respective plates 33. The plates 33 extend shaft 25, said segments 46, bars 47 and out to the inner wall of the shell 12 and clamping members 48, corresponding with are open at their center around the shaft the like parts 40,. 43, 44 hereinbefore de- 119 I 25, as denoted at 36 (Fig. 4), and the mascribed. The scrapers 45 are by means of terial under treatmentis caused to descend the segments 46 adjusted to match the conthrough the 0 en centers 36 and fall on the vexity of the bottom 14 and angularly set plates below t cm, the material thus taking to direct the material from said bottom to a serpentine course through the apparatus. the discharge nozzle 28.

The material which falls from the lower- The inlet or feed nozzle 22 and the outlet most plate 33 descends upon the bottom 14 or discharge nozzle 28, may be plain open and is thence swept or moved to the outlet nozzles, as shown in Fig. 2, but when 0cca+ or dlscharge nozzle 28, as hereinafter exsion renders it desirable, as when dryin plamed.

solid or perforated or of screen type, as outlet nozzles of the formshown at 49 in maybe preferred and as indicated in Figs. Figs. 8 and 9, these nozzles having arcuate- 2 and 10 respectively. I sides and enclosing rotary winged gates 50 Upon and arranged .to travel over the mounted on shafts 51 to which power may he plates 32, 33 may be either under a vacuum, I will provide inlet an plates 32 and to move the materialunder be applied through a belt wheel 52. The

treatment that may be thereon over the gates 50 are adapted to'feed the material outer edges of said plates, are a series of into and from the dryer, while at the same angularly dis osed pushers or scrapers 37, time effecting a closure against the arcuate and upon. an arranged to travel over the sides of the nozzle, in a well-understood plates 33.and to 'move the material that may manner. Y

In the employment of the apparatus, the product to be dried or evaporated is fed in suitable and continuous volume through the inlet nozzle 22 and at first falls upon the top plate 32 and is b means of the scrapers 37 t-hereat moved a ong upon and to the edges of said plate and thence falls upon the first plate 33 below said top plate 32 and is moved along upon and to the central opening 36 of said plate 33 by the scra ers 38 moving over the surface of said plate. Upon the material reaching said opening 36 of the aforesaid plate 33 it becomes unsupported and falls upon thenext lower plate 32, over which the material is moved by the scrapers thereon until it falls over the outer edges thereof and reachesthe next lower plate 33, upon which the material is moved by the scrapers thereon until it reaches and is pushed over the edges of the central opening in said plate 33, whence the material falls upon the convex bottom 14; and is thereon acted upon by the scrapers 45 and by them moved to the exit or discharge nozzle 28 and passes to a suitable receiver or conveyor, not shown. The scrapers have a comparatively slow movement imparted to them from the central shaft 25 and the material under treatment is by said scrapers very thoroughly agitated and distributed over the plates 32, '33 and is repeatedly turned over to expose all its particles to the drying medium. The apparatus of my invention may be nipped with as many of the alternating p ates 32, 33 as may be found to be desirable.

The heating medium, air or gas, produced by the furnace 18, flows through the conduits and enters the upper portion of the chamber 17 surrounding the inner shell 12 or the retort proper, and while heating said shell throughout, descends through said chamber 17 and passes from the lower end of the same into the lower end of the drying chamber, whence the heating medium ascends on a zig-zag course through the central openings of the plates 33 and around the peripheral edges of the plates 32 and finally leaves through-the exhaust 23, which will usually be 4 connected with a pump, blower, stack or the like to induce a steady current through the apparatus. The heating medium while traveling upwardly through the drying chamber, is compelled also to travel laterally between the plates 32, 33 and against the material thereon and also through the material descending from one plate to another in series, with the result that all particles of the material are exposed to. the action of the heating medium, which absorbs and carries oflf the moisture from said material. It is to be noted that in the operation of the apparatus the heating medium moves in an opposite direction to that of the material under treatincreasing the efiiciency of action of the heating medium, and in instances of this kind a sealing ring 70, Fig. 10, corresponding to the ring 15, will be used at the lower end of the chamber, 17 in lieu of the blocks 16, thereby sealing the chamber 17 from direct communication with the drying chamber of the apparatus, the apparatus then being used as a vacuum dryer and the material being subjected to a lower temperature. It will also be found to be convenient and sometimes very desirable, to introduce heating coils, as at 71, Fig. 10, between the plates 32, 33 and con' nect them with the chamber 17, thus even in vacuum drying providing for an increased temperature in the drying chamber of the apparatus.

In the event of sealing the lower end of the chamber '17 in the manner described, said chamber at its lower end should be provided with a drain 7 2 forthe escape of water of condensation from said chamber.

I have hereinbefore referred to air and gas as the heating medium, but when the apparatus is made use of as a vacuum dryer, the heating medium may also be steamor hot water.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A vertical drying apparatus comprising an outer-cylindrical shell, an inner cylindrical shell spaced from the outer shell to form between the two shells a chamber for a heating medium to be supplied thereto, a cover having an inlet for the material to be dried, a bottom having an outlet for the material treated, and interior mechanism comprising two series of alternating stationary disks supported from the inner walls of the apparatus to one after another receive the material fed to the apparatus, the disks of one series being less in diameter than the chamber of the apparatus to permit the discharge of the material over the peripheral edges thereof to the disks of the other series, and the disks of said other series being extended outwardly to the inner wall of the drying chamber to receive said material and having open centers to permit the discharge of the material therethrough to the disks of smaller diameter, a central vertical shaft extending through the apparatus, a series of radial arms secured to said shaft and extending over said disks respectively, and a series of scraper blades secured to said arms and engaging the floors of said disks, the blades engaging the disks of smaller diameter being adapted to move the material over the peripheral edges thereof, and the blades engaging the other disks being adapted to discharge the material through the central openings therein.

2. Dr ing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in w ich the outer shell extends below the inner'shell andin which said bottom is upwardly domed and receives the dried material from the lowermost disk, and in' which scraper blades are secured to said shaft to move over the convex surface of said bottom and move the material to said outlet therefor.

3. D ing a paratus as claimed in claim 1, in w ich t e inner shell extends above the outer shell and has an angle-iron reinforcing band secured around its u per edge receiving the peripheral edges 0 the cover, and in which the outer shell extends band secured thereto affording means which the ap aratus may be supported; a legs or the li e.

4. Drying apparatus as claimedin' claim 1,' in which the disks of smaller diameterv are of shallow cone-shape and the disks of larger diameter are of inverted shallow cone-shape, and in which said disks are sup-' ported by radial bars extending to 'substantially the middle of said disks and secured at their outer ends to brackets fastened to the inner wall of the inner shell.

5. D ing a paratus as claimed in claim 1, in w ich t e chamber for the heating medium is sealed at the upper .end and open at its lower. end below the series of disks, and in which the exhaust for. vapor and gas is at the upper end of the apparatus, whereby the heating mediiun is caused to take a circuitous course upwardly against the par- ;ticles of the matenal agitated on and fall ing from the disks.

= .1, in 'w ich t e chamber for the 6. D ing a paratus as claimed in claim heating medium is closed at its upper end by a ring interposed between said shells, and in which said shells at thelower end of said chamber ed are spaced apart by means permitting the heating medium :to freel chamber into the drying c amber below said disks, and in which the exhaust forvapor' and gas is at the upper'end of the apparatus.

7. Drying apparatus asclaimed in claim 1, including conduits leading from a furnace or other source of supply for the heating medium, into opposite sides of the upper end of'saidcha-mber formed between said shells, and in which said chamber is open at is lower end below said disks;

8. Drying apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the cover has a nozzle at its said 'to said se pass from said tical drylng chamber having an inlet at its upper end for the material to be dried and an outlet at its lower end for the material treated, two series of alternating disks to one afteranother receive the material on its :i 'passage through the apparatus, the disks of below the inner shell and has an angle-iron;

one series permitting the discharge of the material over their peripheral edges to fall upon the disks of the other series, and the dlsks of said other series having open centers to permit the discharge of the material therethrough to fall upon the central portions of the disks of the first series, a central vertical shaft extending through the apparatus, a seriesof radial arms connected with said shaft and extending over said disks and having a plurality of segments, and scraper blades secured to'sai'd segments and engaging the floors of said disks for movin said. material along over and off from t e same, the means securing the blades I ents permit-ting angular adjustment of t e, blades.

12.. D ing apparatus as claimed in claim 11, in .w ich said segments contain arcuate slots and in which said blades are adj ustably Secured to said segments by bolts engaging the blades and extending through said slots.

13. Drying apparatus as claimed in claim 11, in which said radial arms are of inverted T-shape and carryarcuate slotted segments secured to the base flange thereof, and in which said 'bladesare flanged at their upper ges-and adjustably secured to said segments by bolts engaging the flanges of the blades and extendmg through the slots. of said segments.

14. Drying apparatus as claimed in claim 11, in whlch said radial arms are of inverted T-shape, and in which the means connecting said arms with the central shaft comprises matching members encompassing and fastened to the shaft and having radial arms between which the webs of said inverted T- bars are secured.

Signed at New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 11th day of January, A. D. 1924.

GODFREY ENGEL, JUNIOR. 

